The Padres must be pretty happy to see the Cubs leave town.
Chicago finished off a sweep of the Friars Wednesday afternoon with a 6-3 victory at Petco Park behind another strong pitching performance by Kyle Hendricks.
Hendricks kept the Friars to just two runs during the first six frames and left with eight punchouts and a 5-2 lead.
MVP candidate Kris Bryant and fellow Cubs All-Star Addison Russell did not hit homers this time (like they did in the first two meetings) but the visitors were able to take the lead just three batters into the first inning and never trailed the rest of the way.
Ben Zobrist smacked a two-run triple to the gap in right and the Cubs already were in front before Paul Clemens and the Padres even recorded an out.
In fact, in all three contests, San Diego never held the lead against the visitors.
Chicago outscored the Friars 16-7 during the series and stretched the gap in the NL Central division to 14 games over the Cardinals.
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Hendricks improved to 12-7 with the victory while Andy Green’s squad fell to just 3-7 in its last 10 ball games.
One bright spot in Wednesday’s loss was Travis Jankowski. The Padres centerfielder extended his on-base streak to 23 consecutive games and contributed two hits.
Jankowski singled in his first at-bat and later led off the 3rd with a double and scored on a triple by All-Star Wil Myers.
Infielder Ryan Schimpf also contributed a double and a triple.
Clemens allowed five runs (four earned) and struck out six in 5.1 innings of work. He fell to 2-3 and has an ERA of 5.06.
San Diego is off Thursday and begins a 9-game road trip Friday in Miami.
Jarred Cosart will start for the Padres while the Marlins give the ball to David Phelps.
